Today, humanity faces catastrophic environmental and climate change, exacerbated by an ever-widening gulf between the ultra-wealthy and the common citizen. People in the middle class suffer from a persistent and growing insufficiency of resources, often forcing them to choose between tuition and medical care, to forego home ownership, or to finance their standard of living through crushing debt. This is a national security issue: history shows us again and again that this is what revolutions are made of, and indeed we are facing a rising tide of social pressure to change how we do business regarding the climate and wealth inequality.
It is no accident that these two subjects are closely linked. Worldwide, climate change disproportionately impacts ordinary citizens in ways both obvious – like loss of property, resources, and livelihoods – and less obvious, like indirect impacts on their nutrition or health, and that of their families.
The 21st century has brought a growing realization among all sectors of business and society that profound reform is needed, if we are to have any chance of preserving the collective wealth and stability needed to survive and thrive in the coming decades of climate challenges.
In Wealth and Climate Competitiveness: The New Narrative on Business and Society, author Bruce Piasecki outlines how we got here – largely driven by the influences of the fossil fuel industries over the past century and a half – and how we can chart a way forward against the human-influenced rapid climate change that now threatens us all.
Piasecki’s work offers an urgently needed solution: rebalancing wealth and the commonwealth. As Piasecki shows us, there is such a thing as “enough,” but at the same time, “enough” has to include enough excess wealth – at all levels – for people and industries to be able to innovate, to effect positive change, and to invest in solutions to climate change and other challenges. People cannot thrive or fully contribute their talents when their lives are too spare, and finding climate change solutions will require the commitment of resources and involvement from people, business, and the government.
Vast changes are already underway, driven forward by social pressures and markets more than by rules and regulations. Many of Piasecki’s Fortune 500 clients are already fully engaged in rebalancing efforts, by making themselves more alert and responsive to climate issues and focusing on ways to integrate themselves more fully with their local communities and society writ large.
In an increasingly fast-moving world facing harsh realities, corporations will ultimately need to adapt to social demands and climate change in order to remain competitive. Those that recognize this as an opportunity will be the ones to thrive, to contribute to the commonwealth, and to contribute to stability and security in a tumultuous 21st century.
As someone with a national security background, I view wealth inequality and climate change through the lens of international security. I found this book insightful and more importantly, the ideas in it can offer a better and more secure future.
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